Garment-clasp.



M. I. HAMBURGER & J. P. TARBOX.

GARMENT CLASP. APPLICATION. FILED FEB. 25} 1913.

5] wuentozs Manes l. Hamburger:

Witnesses J hn 1 Tar'box. M f W C a f 1 I u alto-Luc anns I. HAMBURGER, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AND JOHN P. 'rnmzox, or wasn- INGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA;

GARMENT-CLASP.

SAID TARBOX nssrenon Specification of Letters Patent.

'10 SAID HAMBURGER.

.Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application filed. February 26, 1913. Serial N 0. 750,852.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, MANES I. HAM- BURGER and JOHN P. TARBOX, citizens of the .United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, and Washington, in the District of Columbia, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Clasps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

Our invention relates to garment clasps of the general type known as snap on clasps. A common disadvantage of existing forms 'of this type of clasp is that the force required to release the clasp must be sufficient to overcome its locking strength, so that some of the locking strength must needs be sacrificed in order that the amount of force required for releasing may be within practicable limits. A further disadvantage in the use of theusual form of this type of clasp is that, in unfas'tening the clasp, the operator must either wedge the clasp members apart by inserting the finger-nail between them with risk to the nail, or resort to pulling the garment at the risk of tearing the same. Inasmuch as the former method is incompatible with the mode of manicure prevailing among users of this type of garment fasteners, the latter method of pulling the garment is usually resorted to with the result that the garment is either torn or subjected to undue wear and distortion.

The object of our invention is to obviate the disadvantages mentioned above, and to provide a clasp of the snap on type which may be released without having to forcibly overcome its whole locking strength.

Another object, is to provide means, in such a clasp, for varying or wholly neutralizing the locking strength, during the op the above type which will be simple in struc-,

ture and operation and. inexpensive to manufacture.

Our intention consists in the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter set forth and particularly pointed out in the .clalms.

Reference is to be had to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stud member of one embodiment of our invention. Fig. 2 is a diametric cross-section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3- is a top plan view of the socket member of one embodiment of our invention. Fig. 4 is a diametric cross-section of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the device, as attached to the folds of a garment. Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating one manner of attachment. Fig. 7 is a diametric cross-section 'of a modified form of the stud member.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the embodiment here shown is constructed of resilient sheet material. The stud member A,'Figs. 1 and 2, is formed of a single piece with a split base 1 anda solid stud head 3. The-split 2 in the base 1 is made wide enough to permit the base to be compressed a given amount without buckling. The stud supporting portion 4 of the base is formed close and substantially parallel, to the split portion so that when the base is compressed, by the application .of pressure in the direction as indicated by' the arrows, the pressure will be directly transmitted to the sides of the stud head 3 and effect a diminution of its diameter. Suitable stitch holes 9 are made in the base to facilitate attachment to the garment. The socket member B, Figs. 3 and 4, is made in the form of a dished disk 5 havinga rectangular opening or socket 6 at the center. One pair of opposite edges 7 of the socket is bent inwardly at an angle to the plane of the disk and out free at the ends 8, so as to produce resiliency. The socket member is also provided with suitable stitch holes 9 for attaching it to a garment.

Fig. 5=illustrates the manner in which the complementary members A and B of the the stud will snap into the socket, in a well known manner, and the parts will assume the position as shown in Fig. 5 with the base portions of the two members held in contact under axial pressure. To unfasten the clasp, the operator inserts his fingers between the folds C and D of the garment and compresses the member A in the direction indicated by the arrows, which reduces the diameter of the stud so that it may be withdrawn from thesocket with little or no outward pressure, and without having to forcibly overcome the entire lockmg strength of the clasp. This feature renders the device particularly adapted to use on garments of soft, fragile material without the necessity of reinforced anchorage, such as heavy tape whichv might interfere with the set of the garment.

It is to be noted here, that the compressible member of the. clasp, is of relatively greater diameter than the" other member in order that it maybe readily engaged by the fingers without interference.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated a manner in which the stud member A may be attached to the fold of a garment between two layers of material with only the stud 3.projecting and exposed. The device is especially suited for this manner of attachment, inasmuch as it is not necessary to leave any space between the juxtaposed surfaces for the insertion of the finger-nail or other wedging means. Further, the pressure existing between the two members, when clasped together, serves to hold the interposed fabric independently of the stitches, whereby the stitches are relieved of the holding strain when the garment is fastened.

A modified form of compressible base for the stud member is shown in section in Fig. 7. In this modification, the base is made in two portions 10 and 11 adapted to slide one above the other so as to brace and guide each other, when the base is compressed, and prevent pinching of the. cloth.

It should be noted that in placing this fastener in position, as for example to unite the flaps of a garment, the division line or split in the base of the stud part should be parallel to the division line or flap of the garment. The result of this will be that $5 to H. Brisacher No. 829,837, but it is to be when a strain occurs tending to draw the edges of the fiaps apart, this strain will also tend to separate the two halves of the stud base, thereby spreading the head 3 of the stud against the edges 7 of the socket member, and offering greater resistance to separation than would be the case if an ordinary fastener were used. We believe this idea to be original with us, and regard it as a feature of value in our invention.

Applicants are aware of the existence of the flexiblestudmember shown in the patent noted} that the base of this stud member is not compressible rectilinearly in the plane of its head or base, but that the head of the stud is flexible about an axis at right angles to the variable diameter of the two parts of the stud. Thus it is the bending of the head of the stud about this diameter which brings the two halves of the stud toward or from each other. In applicants device there is compression (as distinguished from flexibility) which compression is in the plane of the base of the stud itself, and not at right angles to the variable diameter of the stud or socket, but parallel thereto.

We contemplate all such changes and modifications of the above described invention that may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Also it is contemplated that the fastener will be used on envelops and covers of all classes in the same form that it is used in connection with garments, or else any of its modified forms may be similarly used. In short, the fastener is intended to be used in connection with any two parts or members adapted to be fastened together, and when so used, the means of mounting it and its particular means of anchorage may be chosen to suit the particular conditions.

The fastener may be plated, enameled, or covered with cotton, silk, or other flexible material in any of the ways well known in the art.

Having thus described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Iatent is 1. A clasp comprising stud and socket members, the socket member comprising a rigid plate with attaching means, and acentral opening with fixed edges, and the stud member comprising a similar plate split diametrally and the two halves bridged by a substantially U- haped spring forming the stud, the ends of the spring being bent toward each other at their points of attachment to the respective parts of the base, so as to form a constricted neck for the stud, the dimensions being such that the stud may be inserted into or withdrawn from the opening in the socket plate by bringing the two halves of the stud base together, and when locked together, the outside members of the stud will be pressed away from each other and against the rigid edges of the opening in the socket base, by the resilient action of the stud spring itself.

2. A clasp comprising stud and socket members, said socketmember having a central socket opening with edges spaced a fixed distance apart, and said stud member having a base and a resilient head member, said base being bridged by said resilient head member and arranged to be otherwise connected only by the fabric to which it is at tached, said resilient head member being arranged to enter the opening in the socket, to

be retained therein by its own resilient action, and to be removed therefrom by compressing the two halves of the stud base and jtohereby the two sides of the resilient mem- 3. A clasp comprising stud and socket members, said socket member having a central socket opening with rigid edges, and said stud member having a base divided into two halveswith their inner edges adja- ,cent, and a bridge overlying the base and connecting the outer edges thereof, said bridge having its central portion bent up to form the stud with a constricted neck and an enlarged head, the base parts being provided with means for attachment to a fabric, and the bridge having its horizontal members lying parallel to the two base parts, whereby pressure upon the. outer edges of the base parts or ends of the bridge, will result in forcing together the two parts of the head to permit easy withdrawal of the stud from the socket.

l. A clasp comprising stud and socket members, said socket member having an opening with its edges a fixed distance apart, and said stud member having a' base divided diametrally into two halves with parallel edges adjacent each other, and a bridge member extending across and connecting the two halves, and having its central portion bent up to form the stud with an enlarged head and a constricted neck, said base members being provided with means for fastening them to a fabric.

5. A clasp comprising stud and socket members, said socket member having a central opening with its edges spaced a fixed distance apart, and said stud member comprising a blank formed of resilient sheet metal with a central bridge and two flat base members extending from and integral with the ends of said bridge, said ends being doubled upon themselves to bring the flat base members beneath and in a plane parallel to the plane of the bridge with their edges adjacent each other, and the central portion of the bridge member being formed up into the shape'of a stud with an enlarged head and constricted neck projecting away from the base. I In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

' MANES I. HAMBURGER.

JOHN P. TARBOX. Witnesses:

C. S. GRUMMA'N, Jams H. MARR. 

